Chapter 3: See the World for What It Could Be
The cold night air snuck its way through the open window to my left, scattering the papers upon my desk. Aggravated even further, I quickly approached the window, slamming it shut. I looked down, my hands clenched into fists, my knuckles turning white. Glancing at my reflection in the glass, I released an exhausted sigh. My dark hair was a mess, eyebrows constantly furrowed as I focused on my work. I hadn't slept in two days, bags under my eyes. I had also yet to leave my apartment for four days. My work was too important.
I heard my door creak open behind me, finding Megan's concerned eyes. Her long brown hair fell down to her shoulders, her mouth twisting when she saw me. My fiancé frowned at me, taking cautious steps towards me. "Scott, why are you still working?" She asked once more tonight, and I turned, running a hand through my hair. "I'm almost there! I can feel it! I'm on to something! I just...I just need more time." I explained, not even bothering to apologize. I was done apologizing for my actions. "Even you've got to sleep Scott." Her soft hand touched mine, as I squeezed it gently. Megan was just as tired as I was. But she refused to allow me to continue down this path. She cared for me too much. I don't deserve it.
"No I can... I can fix this! I can prove to everyone what's really going on! They weren't just average criminals. They had a plan, funding, resources, someone pulling the strings behind the shadows! They ambushed us, and they had access to information that was kept secret from the public." I ranted to myself, as Megan stared at me. I was beginning to sound more insane by the minute. "Just listen to yourself! You're crazy! You can't keep this up! You need to get some sleep. You're so obsessed with this operation that you're not only neglecting me, your friends, your team, but you're neglecting your own needs! You haven't eaten anything today!"
"I don't need to eat!" I snapped, staring her down. Her soft gaze saddened, looking up at me. "Scott, you need to stop. I'm sorry about what happened to Philip. I know it's hard to lose him, but he'd want you to rest. You're killing yourself over this. I'm worried about you. Everyone is." Megan pleaded, but I turned away, unable to look at her. How could she not understand what this meant to me? I'd track down those responsible for my best friend's death. I'd finally bring justice to the ones manipulating us behind the scenes. There's more to this than my boss is letting on. He knows something I don't. I know it.
"I have to do this. They can't get away with it. Philip deserved better." I muttered, placing my hands on my desk, analyzing the papers I had strewn about. "You can't seriously hope to take them all down by yourself! Your boss gave you a week to rest up and work past this, but you have done the complete opposite! You've turned our bedroom into some sort of makeshift office!" Megan yelled, and I growled, slamming my fist into my desk. "I'm nearly there! I'm on to something bigger than all of us. Everyone is connected. Vishkar! Overwatch! Blackwatch! Talon! Helix! LumériCo! They're all connected! Companies have more power than the government! Innocent people are dying, while they play their game! People behind the scenes control and manipulate everyone through the media! I have to stop them!"
"Would you stop with the conspiracies already?! There is no kind of 'Illuminati'! There is no connection! You need to sleep!" She demanded, and I turned to her, frowning. "I can't. I just can't. I can save people. Try and change the world. I can't sleep knowing what's truly going on Megan. I'm sorry." I apologized, and I watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "I'm sorry too."
Slamming the door shut behind her, I was left in silence. Alone. Truly alone this time. I wanted her to see. I wanted everyone to see. I'm not crazy. Those looks everyone gave me at the office. All of them doubting me, claiming I'd truly lost it, and gone off the deep end. But I haven't. I'm just ahead of the curve. Turning to my desk, I sat down in the chair, finding myself in a familiar position. My head was in my hands, elbows resting on the desk, trying to keep myself awake. I had to keep digging. "I'll never stop looking." I told myself.
For a few moments, I stared at my work. Admittedly, I was barely able to keep my eyes open. But I refused to allow my friend's death to go unavenged. Even if that means my name and reputation have to be destroyed. I had earned everyone's respect, having never failed an investigation. I'd never lost a squad mate...up until now. People believe my obsession with finding the truth will be my end. It will not be my end. But it will be theirs!
Before I could continue working, a rumble came from beneath me. As I was beginning to process what was happening, an explosion erupted in my room, the shockwave forcing me back as flames engulfed the room. My work, desk, computer, everything was destroyed in the blink of an eye as I flew back into a bookshelf. It collapsed on top of me, crushing me. The glass window I had shut shattered from the force of another explosion, as I yelled in agony.
The next thing I could remember when I regained consciousness was men in dark combat gear analyzing the room, shifting through the scorched papers in the room. The flames were still ablaze, as I could feel sharp pains come from my chest, my ribs broken. Wheezing, I gained the attention of the men inside what remained of my bedroom. Their guns pointed towards me. Ignoring them, I focused on Megan, who was being dragged away, reaching out towards me. "SCOTT!" I could barely make out her screams and desperate cries, my ears still ringing from the explosion. In an attempt to speak I coughed up blood, spewing the red liquid to the floor. Looking upwards, I noticed something that sent a shiver down my spine. They were the same men who killed Philip. I could remember their dark uniforms. They had arrived to finish me off, and silence me before I could expose them. Reaching out, my face contorted into a horrified expression as I noticed my arms were gone, replaced with a bloody mess of flesh and bone sticking out of my burned skin. I released screams of terror as I realized what had happened to me. I noticed a woman looking down on me, a terrifying smirk spreading wide across her face.
Unable to move, I found myself completely paralyzed as metallic snake like creatures squirmed their way up my torso, moving down my shoulders. They penetrated my skin through the stubs left behind from the blast, replacing my limbs with black titanium, hardening as the locks tightened and hissed, all while I shouted in fear. I could hear Megan calling my name, before a gunshot silenced the memory.
I snapped awake, sitting up, realizing I was back in reality, away from the nightmare. I wiped away the cold sweat running down my forehead, as I looked down at my arms, the same metal locks hissing at me, as if assuring me that nightmare had come true, and my past was even scarier than my future. Clenching my hands into fists, I threw the blankets off of me. Looking to my right, I noticed it was still late at night. Exhaling, I tried to shake everything off. I couldn't help but hear the screams of those trapped in the train station, calling their loved one's name in hopes of locating them. I could still feel the man's grip on my arm as he died, tightening his grasp before releasing it all together. Shuddering, I reached for my cigarette box in a desperate attempt to calm my thoroughly unsettled nerves. Of course, it was empty. Throwing it at the wall in a fit of rage, I growled.
Sombra and I met up quickly after the blast, hurrying out of the way as police and firefighters rushed the scene. As much as I wanted to help those still trapped, I couldn't compromise our mission. We needed to leave. We ended up staying at a hotel to lay low for a while. Despite the looks I received from the owners and employees here, they allowed me in. I guess a bombing can put people on edge.
Turning on a holovid beside my bed, I watched as the news displayed riots breaking out across the world, especially here in London. The police were having trouble keeping people calm, with molotovs being thrown, rocks hurled, hell even guns were fired. Multiple assaulted officers, countless omnics murdered and ruthlessly beaten. People wasted no time blaming the omnics for what happened in the train station. Humanity always loved to have a scapegoat. Something to turn all their rage towards. The demands for the UN to do something about these countless attacks and acts of aggression were becoming louder and louder. Millions of people wanted omnics to be relocated, to be herded into cities specifically created for them. They were ghettos, but I doubt anyone cared. A second Omnic Crisis was on the horizon. The future of this world couldn't get any bleaker.
"I'll never stop looking." I grunted, my mind flashing back to the fateful night that made me what I am today. The reoccurring nightmare continued to pester me with visions of Megan being dragged away, of Moira stumbling across me after the explosion, of my flesh being replaced with machine and metal. Nothing frightened me more than myself. I've still yet to get used to my body. I don't know if I ever will. I needed to stop these visions. I'll never truly conquer this fear until I see what happened with my own eyes. I need to go to the morgue, and see what remains of my past. Conflict within myself won't help me fight my future battles. Just like the world around me, I'm divided.
Standing up, I grabbed some clothes to slip into and got ready. I wore a long sleeve black shirt to blend in with the night, along with dark jeans. Placing my trench coat on in order to hide most of my augmentations from people, I stepped out of my room, locking it behind me. It was late at night, and I figured disturbing everyone else in the hotel wasn't a good idea. Sighing, I braced myself for what I may see when I get there. But for now, I'll have to focus on not being noticed by a mob of 'purists'.
"Tsk tsk. Leaving without me huh amigo?" I heard the familiar voice of Sombra come from behind me. Grimacing, I forced myself to turn back to her. I was hoping to go alone on this. But now that she's seen me, she'll surely follow me, whether I like it or not. "What were you doing back there?" I asked, ignoring her question. I watched as her fingers ran along a purple hologram in front of her, but she closed it before I could tell what she was doing. For some reason, I felt uneasy about how much Sombra hid from me. I didn't even know her name. Yet she knows every single thing there is to know about me. That's her weapon I suppose. How she gets leverage over all of us. I need to be careful about who I discuss my thoughts with. With her reputation, I wouldn't be surprised if Moira knew every single word that has come out of my mouth since we left.
"Just reading up on some things. World has really gone to shit hasn't it?" She asked, offering a smirk. I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, it has. It's a new world." I muttered. "And it's a world where they fear people like you." The hacker replied bitterly. Rather than asking her what she meant by that, I questioned her once more. "Any clues on who is responsible for the bombing?"
A wide grin graced the woman's lips as she stood up from the bench she was sitting on. "As a matter of fact I do. There is a man named Aiden Foxx. His fingerprints were found all over a bomb that failed to explode a few meters from where we were. In an attempt to hide, he's probably with his fellow 'purists' in some hideout. Still trying to find out where. But here's the kicker," Sombra paused, stepping beside me. "The police already know about this. I found out by hacking through their database. They've hidden this information from the public."
"Think they're scared it'll make omnic-human relations worse?" I raised an eyebrow. She shrugged. "Maybe. Doubt it could get much worse though. I think they've been paid off. Someone might be behind this. And the only people I can think of is those behind the bombing. We're going to have to find out the hard way. We've gotta find Mr. Foxx. I'm quite certain you'll be able to make him squeal."
Offering her a nod, I silently agreed to the plan. Though my mind was on where I was actually going, and the real reason why I was here. Nothing else mattered. I needed to rid myself of these nightmares. I refuse to wake up in another cold sweat in the middle of the night with the feeling of fire slowly trickling its way up my arm. Or what needed to pass as my arm.
Sombra offered me another look I couldn't decipher. Every movement or slight contortion of her face was a mystery to me. "Yet you didn't know that plan. And you were leaving already. So, where is it you thought you'd be going?" She stepped forward, devilishly smiling up at me. I hesitated, though keeping up the facade well enough. "I was out for a walk. If I wanted you jumping down my throat every time I moved I'd have asked by now."
"Struck a nerve huh? Sorry Scottie. How about we call a truce? No more sarcastic remarks from me, and you can't avoid my questions any longer. Deal?" A sharp eyebrow raised as she met my eyes. Scanning her, I detected a lie, her heartbeat quickening. She's good at hiding her true intentions, but not good enough to fool me. Besides, Sombra has a hard time keeping comments to herself. Reluctantly agreeing, I shook her hand. "Deal."
A silence came between us as our eyes met. Her dark blue hues against my own camera-like lenses as they zoomed in and out. A smirk came across her face, as she stepped towards me once more. "Permission to ask a quick question?" The hacker asked, and I scoffed. "Denied. But you'll ask anyways so what's the point?"
"Were you planning on heading to the morgue without me?" I raised an eyebrow. Quickly nodding, I didn't falter under her gaze. "Yes. I figured why wake you up. I need to find answers." I answered, and she smiled. "You realize we're supposed to focus on our mission against the purists right?" Sombra replied, and I shrugged. "It can wait. This can't." I muttered.
"Good answer. If you don't mind, I'd like to find out what truly happened just as much as you, so I was wondering if I could tag along. You could probably use me anyway. You seem likely to try and sneak in."
Contemplating my decision, I struggled to calculate what would truly be the best choice. Could I trust this woman? No. No I probably couldn't. But something keeps me from pushing her away. And I think she can sense my hesitation. "Alright. I could use some help to get information from the database. Probably some sort of camera that caught what happened."
"Here's hoping."
The way inside was easy. A few garage doors, some passcodes and broken locks, and we soon found ourselves in the morgue. It was brightly lit, as sterile as most hospitals. Every step forward I took I could listen to as they echoed off the walls. We weren't supposed to be in here. But I couldn't care less. Officers were still investigating, and were on scene. They were little trouble to get past. There was something going on here. I lacked the final piece of the puzzle to make the bigger picture. I was blind. But not for long.
Sombra was always close behind, studying my movements. Each uneasy breath, hesitation, grunt, pause, clenched fist. Though she stayed nearly silent, only offering looks of both approval and wariness. The woman didn't fully trust me herself, and could sense how truly on edge I was. But I could scarcely help it. Being so close to what caused all of this. To know that I'll finally get my memory back. That I'll be able to put these nightmares to rest. Yet a part of me felt reserved, and conservative. 'I can't promise you'll like the answers you find.' Moira's words ran through my head. What awaited me inside?
The room was dead silent as I stopped in front of the correct number according to the files Sombra managed to pull up. "File 2187." I muttered to myself, gripping the handle. Taking a deep breath, I looked at Sombra. She nodded, preparing herself.
When the cabinet slid open, I found her. Or what was left of her. Her burnt body lay stiff on the slab, though completely cold to the touch. No warmth radiated through. The body was kept frozen to keep it from crumbling or dissolving into dust. No skin was left on the bones, only charred remains of muscle and flesh. The fires had not discriminated, burning her face as well as her body. A sudden neural shock went flushing through me, a warm and soft hand running along my cheek. A faint giggle in my ears as her soft hazel eyes met mine.
Shaking my head, I felt Sombra place a hand on my shoulder gently. "How're you holding up Scottie?" She asked, and I waved her off. "I'm fine. Just a vision." I spoke softly; unable to find my voice, much less my confidence. "Do you have any recordings? Video files? Data?" I asked, though never taking my eyes off of what remained of my past life. My titanium arms clenched tightly around the metal handle of the cabinet. I heard her curious humming as she searched through the database with her tools. A faint click of a button on a bright purple hologram and there it was. Scanning it, she skimmed through the information.
"Yep. This is Megan Pierce alright. Got the blood samples, along with DNA tests. Police lack definite answers on why she was murdered, and can't explain your disappearance afterwards. They link her death to what caused the explosion in the first place, which they believe was made by Blackwatch, or at least what's left of them after everything that has happened. Others theorize she died because of her studies. Perhaps a disagreement between her coworkers beforehand?" Her sharp eyebrows raised, lips tightening into a thin white line.
"Any recordings?" I demanded, failing to hide the urgency in my voice. I ran a hand along Megan's body, feeling the rigid flesh run against my smooth locks and joints. Although I can't remember her, I can't help but feel an emptiness inside. I suppose I didn't need to see this. But I wanted to.
There was a slight shift behind me, an unsettled sigh. Sombra met my eyes, before dropping her gaze. "You might wanna see this. I'll keep the audio off. It's...disturbing." She finished, enlarging the video with two fingers. I moved closer to her, focusing on the footage in front of me. There I was, just like in my dream, hunched over my desk, head in my hands, desk covered in books and papers. I sat up as the camera trembled from the shaking of the explosion. Flames engulfed the room I was in, spreading up my arms and legs, shrapnel finding its way into my body and skull. A bookcase collapsed on top of me, shattering some of my bones under the immense weight. Sombra looked away from the screen, shaking her head. "Sorry, it's just..." she paused, unable to find the word to describe it. Or she simply didn't want to find it.
The camera was barely able to capture any footage afterwards, the screen cracked, and the recording mechanisms badly damaged by the temperatures of the blazing fire. I watched as men in familiar uniforms destroyed most of my home, dragging Megan away from me as she called for me. I was grateful Sombra had muted it. I reached out for her, noticing my lack of arms, blood spilling onto the floor.
The camera went black, before returning once more. This time, Talon agents shifted through the rubble, searching for anything of use. They must've been tipped off by the explosion, hoping to catch Blackwatch in the act and eliminate them. Moira stood above me, ordering others to retrieve my body from under the rubble. By that point, my limbs were nothing but bloody stumps, the fires cauterizing the wounds naturally. My face was bleeding from the scratch that went along my jawline, along with shrapnel from the upper left edge of my head.
The film stopped there, and I paused, scratching my chin. I was hoping to get answers. But I received nothing. Nothing but even more visions to haunt me in the future. Sighing, I realized this endeavor was completely pointless, and served no purpose other than to infuriate me even further over what happened to me all those months ago.
Stopping me, the hacker grabbed my wrist. "Scott wait! I've got something..." She said, rewinding back to when the Talon agents were searching through the rubble. Zooming in, her brows furrowed as she analyzed a man. His long, light blonde hair stood out, contrasting with the dark uniforms. His gun was pointed at me, preparing to put me out of my misery. Moira stopped him, speaking with him. His blue eyes widened, before he ordered the others to pick me up to salvage the bits and pieces of my body.
"Well I'll be damned...ain't that interesting?" She hummed to herself, a small smirk meeting her lips. Frowning, I looked at her. "What is it?" I asked, and she giggled.
"Well, that, my dear friend Scott, is Aiden Foxx."
My eyes widened in surprise, turning to her. "How? What?" I stammered, completely caught off guard by that revelation. Her small smile turned into a frown, her brows furrowing as she thought to herself. "I don't exactly know. Aiden Foxx is the man linked to the train station bombing, probably using the money he has to bribe the police and keep them off his tail. But why in the hell would a former Talon agent become a human purist?"
Even more confused than I was, she began flipping through all the information she had on the former agent. "There has to be something..." she mumbled, focusing. During our entire mission she had seemed completely calm, as if everything was going exactly according to one of her many plans, yet now she is completely thrown off, struggling to figure out why this had come to be. It was my first time seeing her shocked. "Perhaps he grew tired of our attacks on humans and quit?" I suggested, and she shook her head. "There has to be more to it than that. Maybe there's something in his files in Talon."
Her face went white, blood flushing from her face. "Qué? There isn't anything in here. Aiden Foxx's files have been wiped completely clean. It's as if he never worked with Talon. Hell, I don't even remember ever seeing him at the base those months before what happened to you. Who is this guy?"
I paused, looking at her. "We'll find out together. You said you might know his location?" I asked, and she shook her head, finding her confidence once more. "Y-Yeah. I might be able to track him down in a few hours." Sombra replied, and I nodded. "Good. It's time we got answers. You said it yourself. I'll make him squeal. He'll tell us everything we want to know, and then we make him disappear." I assured her, placing my hand on her shoulder. A smile returned to her face. "I like the sound of that Scott."
'And then I'll finally figure out who I was before all of this, and who is responsible for what happened to me.' I thought to myself.
The cold night air- ah! Another vision passed by, causing me to shake my head in frustration. I'll stop these visions in the coming minutes. This ends now.
The so called "base of operations" Sombra tracked down through Foxx was a small, private shack miles away from the city of London. I was surprised by the lack of guards or defenses. I suppose they didn't think anyone would track them down since the police have kept information about Aiden Foxx to themselves. A fatal mistake.
Looking down, I scanned the interior of the shack from above on the roof. Life signs were directly below Sombra and I as I prepared to breach through the weak and fragile ceiling. Twelve men, two of them right beside each other near the door, another two in separate rooms. The other eight were scattered amongst each other. They'll come running when they hear their friends' cries for help. And we'll be waiting.
Motioning for Sombra to follow me, I bent down on one knee, digging my fingers into the metal to get a grip before slowly peeling it upwards. None of them seemed to notice. Dropping down behind the two men, I used the cover of night to my advantage. The shack was poorly lit, making this all the more easy. Sombra was right behind me, as I slammed my blades into their spines, puncturing their lungs simultaneously. Neither of them could make a sound as they died, only succeeding in quickening their deaths as they gasped for air. Moving quietly, I ignored the concerned looks coming from Sombra. Ordering Sombra to take the man to our right out while I took out the one to the left, we both nodded at one another. Both men died in their sleep, mine barely putting up a fight as I slit his throat. I heard Sombra use a pillow to suffocate the other.
At the end of the long hallway, a closed door stood between us and the remaining purists left. These people made me sick. What is so pure about killing hundreds of innocents? What justice is that?
I didn't hesitate to kick the door off its hinges, sending it careening into one of the men, crushing him under the weight. While he struggled to get up, the others withdrew their weapons, but not quick enough. Sombra began to spray them down with a barrage of bullets from her sub machine gun. I preferred a more personal touch to my kills. Rather than using the silenced pistol I was equipped with, I dashed into them. Smacking the gun out of one man's hand, I quickly disposed of him with a swift decapitation. His head hadn't even touched the floor before I slammed my blades into the throat of another man, watching his face flush and lose its color, before draining of life. I took a pleasure in knowing a "clank" such as myself was killing these men. It was ironic in a way. Two men were left, one of them a familiar blonde. The man we were here for. Sombra crushed the neck of the man who had been hit by the door under her heel, reloading her gun while doing so. Stabbing the man through his hand, I felt his arm dislocate as I pulled my arm upwards, leaving his abdomen exposed. Elbowing him in the gut, I released the mechanism in my arm, allowing the titanium blade to shoot through my forearm and out my elbow, impaling him to the wall. His blood splattered onto the wall behind him as I yanked the blade out sideways, splitting him in half with one clean cut.
Smirking, I stepped up to Foxx, who was now begging for his life as I punched him in the cheek, sending him sliding across the bloody floor. I looked up at Sombra as he groaned in pain. Her eyes were wide with both shock and disgust looking at me. "They're still people Scott. You didn't have to do that." She said, and I scowled. "Did you forget what they did to those people in the train station?" I demanded, and she shook her head. "No. But I-"
"Then you must also remember the hundreds of innocent lives they've taken and destroyed in mere months! These purists need to be put down like the mad dogs they are!" I cut her off, as she frowned. "It's not that simple! Violence breeds more violence. This will only cause more deaths, and divide omnics and humans even further. You know exactly who they'll blame for what happened here. The omnics have it bad enough without you making it even worse for them by brutally murdering men without a fair trial." She argued, and I smiled.
"Yes. Oh yes it is that simple. I came here to punish the men responsible for the train station bombing. I will not allow those who died to go unavenged! I came here to kill the sick bastards who bombed those innocent civilians. You can either step aside or fall in line, but you will not get in my way!" I yelled, silencing her. For once, the hacker seemed at a complete loss for words. Initially, I stood by my words. But now that my adrenaline wasn't pumping, I could think straight. I reached a hand out. "Look, I'm sor-"
I attempted to apologize, before she waved a hand. "Yeah." The woman dismissed my apology, and a sudden sting of guilt struck me. I was wrong to have lashed out like that. But before I could brood over my poor choice any longer, I needed to tend to the reason we came here.
Aiden Foxx was still recovering from the blow, struggling to get to his knees. Hoisting him upwards, I looked him in the eye; fear shot through him. Slamming him down into the desk behind him, I held his arm behind his back while holding his head to the desk. He screamed in pain as I twisted his arm upwards, feeling his humerus snap from the pressure. "Ah! Argh! Stop! What do you want?!" He begged, the realization that he didn't have much time hitting him.
"Why'd you create those bombs?! Why'd you kill those innocents?!" I demanded, as Sombra pressed the barrel of her gun to his head, as he made an audible gulp. "What're you talking about?! I didn't do anything?!" He defended himself, but I only tightened my grip, nearly fracturing his forearm. Wincing, he began to struggle. "Do I look like the kind of person to lie to right about now?! I just slaughtered eleven men, and I won't hesitate to add your name to the list!"
Sombra twirled a lock of his blonde hair around in her fingers, looking him in the eyes as she teased him. "I'm afraid my friend here isn't very patient. I'd give him what he wants." She advised, and Aiden nodded at her. "Okay...okay okay. I planted the explosives in the station. But it wasn't my plan! I didn't want to!" He admitted, and I growled, slamming his head into the desk once more. "Who came up with the plan?!" I demanded.
"I-It was my boss. Maximilien! He told me it was necessary for his plan!" He answered quickly. Sombra raised an eyebrow. "Maximilien? He works with Talon. He sympathizes with our plans. Why would he bomb the train stations? It doesn't make any sense. If the higher ups at Talon wanted the station blown up, they wouldn't of sent us here. Maximilien must be furthering his own plan rather than ours." She said. I had to take her word for it. I read the files we had on this Maximilien, though there wasn't much to go off of. He was an omnic that operated in France. Some type of big wig, owned a lot of land. He was a leader here at Talon, having met with Akande Ogundimu, aka Doomfist not long ago while I was still recovering. What was the omnic up to?
"What's his plan? Is he operating alone? Does Talon know of his plans?!" I asked, and he shook his head. "I don't know! He never told us. I'm just one of his goons! Expendable! He said that we're going to change the world!" He yelled, and I stopped. "What's next in his plan? Where is Maximilien?!"
"I don't know. He keeps things secret from everyone, even Talon obviously. Moira sent me away to work with him! I don't like doing his dirty work, but it pays well! I promise I ain't got nothing against omnics! Moira clearly didn't know about this! Or maybe she's lying to you!" He explained, and I shook my head. He's just trying to distract us. Moira wouldn't lie to us. She gains nothing from our failure here. "WHERE IS YOUR BOSS?!" Aiden released a frightened yelp as I gripped his neck. "France! He owns a casino in Monaco! You'll find him there! He always works there!"
"Thank you." I spoke softly, snapping his neck with the flick of my wrist. Releasing his body, I allowed him to fall to the floor. My eyes met Sombra's, and she sighed. "I guess rather than finding answers we only found more questions." She muttered, and I nodded. "We need to inform the others. Perhaps we could get some back up." I offered.
Before we could continue the conversation, I overheard the footsteps of someone else in the shack. They were lightweight, with an odd buzzing accompanying their movements. Some type of engine strapped to their chest whirring to life every so often. Sombra heard it too, readying her weapon.
A flash of blue light went between us. Using my enhanced senses, I noticed a woman's presence behind me. Another flash of blue light was interrupted by my hand, and a surprised gasp for air followed by coughing. I held the slender woman by the throat as she kicked and squirmed, her large brown eyes staring at me in both confusion and terror. The woman wore bright orange track pants, along with a pilot's jacket with a British flag on the shoulder. Her messy hair poked out in all directions, her shocked eyes staring at me from behind orange tinted goggles. I easily recognized the woman as Lena Oxton, the pilot from the failed experimental flight called Slipstream, but more importantly, the poster child of Overwatch. "Lena Oxton. What brings you here Tracer?" Sombra asked, looking at her. She only scowled defiantly, punching my arm in a feeble attempt to break free. Her eyes widened when she noticed my titanium limbs. I almost found it amusing.
"You're not supposed to be here. I should just tie you up and leave you to the police. No doubt they'd enjoy locking up an ex-Overwatch agent. Probably be in for quite the raise... But I have a better idea." I said. "No...you don't have to do this! We...we can work...together!" She struggled to speak as I choked her, and I growled, a spark of rage rushing through me. "Never." I replied. These people were responsible for what happened to me. Once I exposed them and who they truly are to the public, they tried to have me killed. Sadly enough for them, I'm as stubborn as they come. I won't roll over and die so easily.
With a quick punch to the temple, the agent fell unconscious in my arms. Clenching my hands into fists, another fit of visions passed me by. I was only becoming more and more frustrated as I delved deeper into this rabbit hole. I don't know if I'll ever receive answers. Sombra and I exchanged a look, silently agreeing to take Tracer to the others in Talon. I'm quite sure Reaper will be happy. He may finally be able to destroy Overwatch for good, if, no, when he squeezes the information from her.
Nothing but the whir of Tracer's chronal accelerator made a noise as we awaited the arrival of our aircraft to take us back to base. Sombra had gone to retrieve some of her things from her room at the hotel, leaving Lena and I by ourselves at the docks. Lena sat there, lying against my bags, staring at me with a look of both anger and pity. The waves crashed against the wood, shaking the docks we sat upon. I kept my eyes away from her in hopes of avoiding any more conversation. I needed some sleep. I just needed to wait until the airship comes here, and I'll ask Moira about everything. All of that after some well earned rest. Perhaps I could finally repaint my door.
My thoughts were interrupted by the short woman to my right. Directing my stern gaze at her, she mumbled something, though the tape over her mouth prevented me from understanding her gibberish. Rolling my eyes, I ripped the tape off her mouth, causing her to release a pained sigh in response. "Ah. Thanks I s'pose." The Brit muttered. "I got tired of you mumbling. Figured I'd let you speak." I growled, my voice even coarser than usual. "How'd you find us?" I asked, and she shrugged. "Wasn't lookin' for ya honestly. I just got lucky. I'd been on the trail of those purists for months. If I had been quicker, maybe I could've stopped the bombing." Lena looked down in shame. "No use wondering what could've happened. Move on." I muttered.
"So, we nearly there yet?" She asked, and I sighed. I could tell she was attempting to bait me into getting close enough for her to escape. But surprisingly enough I mustered up enough patience to stop myself from knocking her out again. I was easily irritated. "Keep this up and you won't get there."
Lena laughed at that, which surprised me. "You remind me of a man I once knew. One of my former commanders." I instantly thought of Reaper, and his past with Overwatch. In a drunken stupor he told me a story about his time with a perky young agent on one of her first missions. I never reminded him about it. But I could only assume the woman he spoke about was Lena Oxton. She sure matched the description. Talkative, clever, and swift.
For a while, she kept silent, as if thinking about the commander. I relished in the quiet, until she spoke up once more. "Why do you do this? Cause all of this chaos?" The question caught me off guard, and I scoffed. "If you think we're behind the bombing, you're wrong. Leave it up to Overwatch to always assume. Shoot first ask questions later, no?" I taunted her, and she coughed, her throat still sore. "I just don't see why all of this needs to happen. Why do we need to keep killing each other?"
"We will emerge from the fires of war a stronger people, free from any flaws. Omnic and human will learn to live as one. The strengths of both. The weaknesses of neither." I explained, sounding more and more like Moira as this mission went on. I guess she's had an influence on my views. More than I'd like admittedly. "Is that what ya truly believe? Or what you've been told to believe?" Lena replied, and I hesitated. I looked down at my titanium limbs, wondering what else they replaced. 'They replaced who I am, both physically and mentally.' I thought to myself. "That doesn't matter." I muttered.
"But it does mate. You don't have to live your life takin' orders. You can be free. Redeem yourself." The woman encouraged. A part of me felt convinced that she actually pitied me. That she was sincere. 'Am I truly that far gone?' I asked myself, unsure of the answer. "What? And take orders from somebody else? From some former Overwatch agent? No. Never." I said, and she giggled. "I never said to do that. You don't have to live this life. Find someone. Settle down. Live your life." Lena said, and I frowned. "This is the only life I have left. It's what I am. My past life was stripped away from me. By Overwatch. Sometimes I can still feel my arms, even my fingers twitching in the middle of the night. I can feel everything you all took from me. I figure why not repay the favor."
"Ya can't know for sure that we're responsible for what happened. You need to figure it out yourself." The woman nudged me with her shoulder, still tied up. "That's what I'm doing. I'll find those who've wronged me, and punish them." I replied, and she nodded. "That won't help. Killin' them will only cause more pain. You need to find it in ya to forgive 'em." She offered, and I scoffed. "I don't need your advice. I'll pull the trigger, and I'll live with the consequences." I assured her, and she sighed. "I wish you could see it the way I see it. You don't have to let what happened to you consume ya. You're still the same person you once were. A few metal limbs ain't gonna change that."
I kept quiet, unable to think straight. I should've kept the tape on her mouth. Would've saved me a lot of trouble. "You don't understand the way people look at me. I'm not human any longer."
"You look human enough to me. A few bits of metal, but I don't mind." Lena joked, and I chuckled. I couldn't help but find myself enjoying the banter between us. "If only everyone saw it like that. The world wouldn't be such a shitshow." I wished, and she giggled. "Don't see the world for what it is. Dare to see it for what it could be."
Looking at her, I raised an eyebrow. "Who said that?" I asked, and she smiled. "A great scientist. And another great scientist before him. He was a good friend. He saved my life." I smiled, despite not having told myself to.
I shook my head, thinking about Lena. I struggled, completely divided. I needed to bring her with me. I'd be able to get more answers. I could find those in Overwatch who did this to me. Of course we'd have to interrogate her, but as long as the ends justify the means. I'll never rid myself of my constant nightmares and visions as long as I'm kept in the dark like this. Moira would also be much more likely to help me after bringing Lena Oxton to her. But what would they do after they get the information they require? Kill her? Hold her captive for years? Parade her body through the streets as some sort of trophy? Give her to the police? The options were seemingly endless, getting worse and worse as I thought about it. Could I truly condemn this woman, a woman I truly believed was a good person, to death because of who she used to work for?
I reached a decision.
By the time I released her from the ropes that held her, she had yet to comprehend what I was doing. Putting her wellbeing before mine, I offered her a light smile, though uneasy. "Go. Just go. Before I change my mind." I ordered, and she grinned from ear to ear. Blinking off with her chronal accelerator, she turned back to me by the edge of the docks. "What's your name?" She asked.
"Scott." I answered without thinking. "You're a better man that you give yourself credit, Scott. Thanks." Lena said, offering me a two finger salute before dashing off.
I stood there, dumbfounded. Sitting down, I realized what I had just done. "I'm fucked." I muttered to myself, thinking about the consequences. If the others find out I released her, I'll be murdered for sure. What if she goes and tells other people about Talon, and where we were and who we worked with? It's not like she isn't talkative. Rubbing my temples, I sighed in frustration. I'll just have to hope she's as good a person as I think she is.
Or else I'm royally fucked.
7722 words! My goodness my hands hurt. Mostly my head though. This chapter was a tough one to get out. I'm terribly sorry for the long wait, but I just wanted to make this chapter as realistic as possible. I didn't want to rush things, and I wanted to make Scott's development, however little, make sense and not seem stupid or unbelievable. Thanks for all the support! You guys really make my day when you leave reviews or even take the time out of your day to read my story! Thanks again! I'll try to refrain from allowing the wait for the next chapter to be as long as this one! Until next time.